UoSM Cube Day 2023

Ninety-six competitors travelled to Johor Bahru, Malaysia on April 1, 2023, turning the University of Southampton Malaysia into a bustling hub of international speedcubing. Entrants journeyed across regional borders and from overseas, bringing together solvers representing China, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the United Kingdom, and the host nation. With 14 rounds scheduled across seven distinct events, the single-day WCA competition offered a demanding test of skill, endurance, and technical precision for every speed cubing enthusiast in attendance.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a massive field of 95 competitors across three rigorous rounds. China's Yiheng Wang delivered an exceptional masterclass on the classic Rubik's Cube, capturing the title with an astonishing winning average of 5.11 seconds. Wang also set the benchmark for the single solve, registering a lightning-fast 4.46 during the competition. Tee Kai Yang of Malaysia mounted a strong challenge on home turf to secure second place with a 6.78 average, while Indonesia's Firstian Fushada took third with 6.88 in the final 3x3 results.

Beyond the main event, the podiums reflected an intense international tussle between regional delegations. Singapore and Malaysia each collected seven podium positions throughout the day, while Indonesia claimed five and China earned two. Singapore's Nigel Phang was in stellar form across the short-format puzzles, winning both the 2x2x2 Cube and Skewb disciplines. Phang topped the 2x2x2 Cube with a rapid 1.45 average and a best single of 1.24, edging out Firstian Fushada's 1.80 average and Singapore's Daryl Tan Hong An at 1.86.

Phang followed up his early success by securing the Skewb title, recording a 3.20 winning average and a 2.81 single across two rounds of play. Malaysia's Ang Chin Xiang finished close behind with a 3.36 average to claim the silver medal, while compatriot Ng Jia Quan rounded out the podium in third place with 3.45. The double victory cemented Phang's dominance in the faster mechanical formats of this premier cubing competition.

Big cube specialists found their spotlight in the 4x4x4 Cube and 5x5x5 Cube divisions, where Firstian Fushada delivered a commanding double gold performance. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Fushada took top honours with a winning average of 27.07, narrowly besting Ng Jia Quan's 27.54 and Tee Kai Yang's 28.86. Fushada repeated the feat in the 5x5x5 Cube, clocking a 51.53 average and an event-best single of 46.96 to finish ahead of China's Anyu Zhang at 53.31 and Daryl Tan Hong An at 53.42.

While the title battles drew widespread attention, the deeper story of UoSM Cube Day 2023 unfolded through massive personal leaps and brave debuts across the field. Chua En Shi made major strides for Malaysia, dropping their 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 2.13, an impressive 56.7 percent improvement over their previous 4.92 mark, while also recording maiden attempts in the 4x4x4 Cube at 50.80 and 5x5x5 Cube at 3:03.20. Teh Maxson also unlocked serious speed, carving 40.3 percent off their 2x2x2 Cube best with an 8.22 mark alongside debut official runs in Skewb at 7.51 and 4x4x4 Cube at 2:44.63. Ashfan Rayyan, travelling from Brunei, tackled all seven events on the schedule, taking a 39.5 percent chunk off their Skewb best down to 13.33 and slashing their 5x5x5 Cube mark by 25.8 percent to 2:38.01 while making a first career Megaminx attempt in 2:33.40.

Other rising competitors broadened their competitive horizons with equally noteworthy results. Tyler Yeoh Chien Yi improved their 2x2x2 Cube best by 26.5 percent to 5.74 while putting up their first official marks in the 4x4x4 Cube with 1:38.29 and Skewb with 10.10. Low Jia Wei advanced to a 9th-place finish in the 3x3x3 Cube, improved their 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 21.2 percent to 13.33, and logged first-time entries in both the 2x2x2 Cube at 2.85 and 4x4x4 Cube at 48.52. Edward Lim took on an extensive slate of six events, branching out into uncharted territory with debut marks of 11.06 in Skewb, 33.25 in 3x3x3 One-Handed, and 1:06.61 in the 4x4x4 Cube.

Specialist events closed out the busy programme with technical displays in one-handed solving and dodecahedral mechanics. Tee Kai Yang captured gold in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, putting together a winning average of 10.40 and a best single of 9.43 to outpace Daryl Tan Hong An at 12.91 and Ng Jia Quan at 13.33. In the Megaminx, Tristan Chua Yong of Singapore dominated the 41-competitor field, posting a remarkable 29.44 winning average and a single of 26.38 to finish ahead of Firstian Fushada at 35.74 and Isaac Lai Yin Chung at 38.05.

As the final solves concluded and the tables cleared at the University of Southampton Malaysia, the gathering highlighted the vibrant cross-border spirit of modern speedcubing. Solvers of all backgrounds tested their limits across multiple rounds, leaving Johor Bahru with fresh milestones, valuable experience, and renewed determination for the next chapter of competitive solving.

Dewan di University of Southampton Malaysia dipenuhi tumpuan mendalam para peserta semasa UoSM Cube Day 2023 berlangsung di Johor Bahru, Malaysia pada 1 April 2023. Walaupun acara bertulis seperti Fewest Moves lazimnya menuntut ketenangan pena dan kertas, kepantasan refleks dalam disiplin pantas tetap menjadi nadi utama kejohanan ini. Sebanyak 7 acara dan 14 pusingan dipertandingkan, menarik seramai 96 peserta yang bersaing merebut catatan masa terpantas.

Bintang utama dalam acara 3x3x3 Cube menyaksikan Yiheng Wang dari China mendominasi pentas dengan purata kemenangan 5.11 serta catatan masa tunggal terbaik 4.46 daripada 95 peserta merentasi 3 pusingan. Tee Kai Yang dari Malaysia menduduki tempat kedua dengan purata 6.78, manakala Firstian Fushada dari Indonesia melengkapkan podium di tempat ketiga dengan catatan purata 6.88 dalam saingan kiub Rubik berprestij ini.

Kejohanan kiub ini turut menyaksikan Firstian Fushada menyerlah dalam kategori kiub bersaiz besar dengan memenangi acara 4x4x4 Cube dan 5x5x5 Cube. Dalam saingan 4x4x4 Cube, Firstian Fushada mencatat purata kemenangan 27.07 di hadapan Ng Jia Quan dengan 27.54 dan Tee Kai Yang dengan 28.86. Bagi acara 5x5x5 Cube yang melibatkan 46 peserta, Firstian Fushada meraih tempat pertama menerusi purata 51.53, menewaskan Anyu Zhang yang mencatat 53.31 dan Daryl Tan Hong An dengan 53.42.

Nigel Phang dari Singapore turut melakar kejayaan berganda di pentas kelajuan tinggi pada UoSM Cube Day 2023. Beliau menjuarai acara 2x2x2 Cube dengan purata kemenangan 1.45, mengatasi Firstian Fushada yang mencatat 1.80 dan Daryl Tan Hong An dengan 1.86. Seterusnya dalam acara Skewb, Nigel Phang merangkul tempat pertama dengan purata 3.20, mendahului dua pencabar dari Malaysia iaitu Ang Chin Xiang dengan purata 3.36 dan Ng Jia Quan yang merekodkan 3.45.

Dalam acara 3x3x3 One-Handed, wakil tuan rumah Tee Kai Yang berjaya merangkul kejuaraan dengan purata kemenangan 10.40 dan catatan tunggal terbaik 9.43, mengatasi Daryl Tan Hong An yang mencatat 12.91 serta Ng Jia Quan dengan 13.33. Sementara itu, saingan Megaminx dimenangi oleh Tristan Chua Yong dari Singapore dengan purata 29.44 dan catatan terbaik 26.38, meninggalkan Firstian Fushada di tempat kedua dengan 35.74 dan Isaac Lai Yin Chung di tempat ketiga dengan 38.05.

Di sebalik perebutan podium utama dalam pertandingan WCA ini, ramai peserta mencipta kejayaan tersendiri menerusi lonjakan prestasi peribadi. Poh Jen Joon menyertai 7 acara dan mencatat peningkatan besar dalam Skewb dengan catatan terbaik 2.80, iaitu 68.9 peratus lebih pantas berbanding rekod lama 8.99, di samping memperbaiki catatan 4x4x4 Cube sebanyak 21.7 peratus kepada 36.74 dan menamatkan saingan 5x5x5 Cube di tempat ke-29. Cyrill Lim Jia Le menyertai 6 acara dengan melakukan percubaan rasmi pertamanya dalam 5x5x5 Cube pada masa 2:13.32 dan memotong catatan Skewb sebanyak 38.3 peratus kepada 10.66 serta 4x4x4 Cube sebanyak 29.3 peratus kepada 50.21. Sridaran Nair pula mencatat percubaan pertamanya dalam Megaminx dengan masa 2:36.03, selain meningkatkan catatan Skewb miliknya sebanyak 46.1 peratus kepada 4.32.

Perjalanan bermakna turut dilakar oleh Lim Te Yi yang mengambil bahagian dalam 5 acara, mencatat percubaan rasmi pertamanya dalam 3x3x3 One-Handed pada masa 33.89 dan 4x4x4 Cube pada masa 1:43.02, selain memperbaiki catatan 3x3x3 Cube sebanyak 19.2 peratus kepada 14.29. Jayden Choo menyertai 7 acara dan mencatat percubaan pertama bagi dua kategori iaitu 5x5x5 Cube dengan masa 1:59.33 serta Megaminx pada masa 2:48.38, di samping memotong rekod peribadi 3x3x3 One-Handed sebanyak 34.7 peratus kepada 23.62. Dari Singapore, Regan Yeo Hao Zhe bertanding dalam 5 acara dan melakukan percubaan pertamanya dalam 5x5x5 Cube dengan catatan 2:22.26 serta meningkatkan masa 4x4x4 Cube sebanyak 28.5 peratus kepada 47.95.

Secara keseluruhan dalam arena speedcubing serantau, kejohanan UoSM Cube Day 2023 menyaksikan pengagihan kedudukan podium yang seimbang dengan Singapore dan Malaysia masing-masing mengumpul 7 kedudukan podium, diikuti Indonesia dengan 5 podium dan China dengan 2 podium. Pelbagai catatan terbaik dan pencapaian bermakna yang terhasil sepanjang satu hari pertandingan ini membuktikan semangat persaingan sengit dan dedikasi padu setiap peserta di Johor Bahru pada tahun 2023.